Weiner



May 5,-1959 M. WEINER 2,884,634

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS TO 'PEN 0R PENCIL CAPS Filed Aug. 21, 1958 v4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mam- Horrla IVE/IVER 3 1959 M. WEINER 2,884,634

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS TO PEN OR PENCIL CAPS Filed Aug. 21, l958 v4 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 45 4a 1 l Fig. 2 47 Z/ 49 45 I i 45 l 4 2a 1 I i Z746 4g v k I mumfiiii? 'H Harris WEINER arromvsvs y 5, 1959. M. WEINER2,884,634

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS TO PEN OR PENCIL CAPS Filed Aug. 21, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllllllllllllllll I D mm y 1959 M. WIEINER 2,884,634

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS TO PEN OR PENCIL CAPS Filed Aug. 21, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 4 r C 7/ E I 2 f7 N!" l*' 26 rill/II In ml!!!- MorrisIVE/IVER AT TORNE Y6 United States Patent MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS TOPEN OR PENCIL CAPS Morris Weiner, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor toDiemakers Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application August 21, 1958,Serial No. 756,377

13 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) The present invention relates to a machine forautomatically attaching clips to caps of pens, pencils and the like.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of amachine of the character described which is relatively simple inconstruction, efficient in use and practically failure proof.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of amachine of the character described which operates in an automatic mannerand in which means are provided for accurately registering the clip withthe cap during the clip attaching operation.

Yet another important object of the present invention is a machine ofthe character described which can operate at a very rapid rate, all themovable elements effecting short strokes.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring tothe drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine showing part of therotatable table carrying the pen or pencil through the machine;

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the machine showing theclip pusher and the clip separator in retracted positions;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the machine similar to that ofFigure 2, but with other elements shown, and illustrating the clippusher at the end of its active stroke and the clip separator inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one half of the cap holding block andof part of the clip separator;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the other half of the cap holdingblock;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the posts mounted on therotatable table and supporting a pen or pencil cap and showing a clipsecured to the cap;

Figure 7 is a cross-section along line 7-7 of Figure 6 and showing thecap in full lines;

Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the cap engaging and clipfeeding assembly of the machine; and

Figure 9 is a section along line 99 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencecharacters indicate like elements throughout, the machine of the presentinvention is designed to automatically attach clips A to caps B of pen,pencils or the like. The clips A are of the type which are provided withpairs of tongues 1 which are strong enough to be forced through thematerial of the cap B and which are adapted to be bent inwardly, asshown in Figure 7, against the inner face of the cap B to secure theclips A in firm position.

The machine of the present invention comprises a circular horizontaltable 2 which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which carries aplurality of equally spaced posts 3 arranged on a circle concentric withthe axis of rotation of table 2, and on which the caps B are mounted forpassage through the assembly C. Each "ice post 3 consists of a base 4and of a stem 5 which is provided with two grooves 6 which extendlongitudinal- The table 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow inFigure 1, and the marginal portion of said table moves underneath theforward part of the assembly C. The

plate disposed in a vertical plane and having a front edge ber 12 of theframe of the machine.

verted L-shaped cross-section which is secured to and extends betweenthe opposed vertical flanges of the side members 11 at the forward endsof the latter. A bracket 13 is secured to the rear ends of the sidemembers 11 and rigidly supports the cylinder 14 of a double acting ramunit, the piston rod 15 of which extends horizontally, forwardly of thecylinder 14. A conduit 16 communicates with the cylinder 15. 1

Two vertical plates 17 and 18 are mounted for re ciprocating horizontalmovement between the side members 11, there being guiding means (notshown) for guiding said plates. The rear plate 17 is rigidly secured tothe forward end of the piston rod 15, as clearly shown at 19 in Figure3, while the front plate 18 is supported by the rear plate 17 and iselastically connected to the latter by means of four bolts 20 which arerigidly con-.

nected to the front plate 18 and extend rearwardly of the latter toslidably extend through holes made in the,

rear plate 17. Coil springs 21, which surround the bolts 20 and extendbetween the two plates 17 and 18, urge said two plates away from eachother with the rear plate 17 abutting against nuts 22 on the rearthreaded ends of the bolts 20. The rear plate 17 carries a forwardlyextending pusher member 23 in the form of an elongated 24 conforming tothe external shape of the clip A, and adapted to engage the same forramming or pushing said clip against a cap B during the clip attachingoperation. The pusher plate 23 freely extends through a slot made in thefront plate 18.

The tongues 1 of the clip A are pushed through the material of the cap Bagainst the post 3, while the latter, together with the cap, are heldstationary against an anvil 25 which is rigidly secured to the fronttransverse mem- The anvil 25 has a convex outer face corresponding tothe radius of curvature of the circular path described by the inside ofthe caps B when the table 2 rotates about its vertical axis.

As each cap B successively moves into clip attaching position oppositethe anvil 25, the top of said cap rides underneath a downwardlyextending sensing member 26,

which is pivoted to the front transverse member 12 as.

shown in Figure 9, thereby raising said sensing member 26 and causingthe same to abut against actuating member 27 of an electric switch 28.The switch 28 is electrically connected to the controls (not shown) forthe operation of the cylinder and piston unit 44 (to be describedhereinafter) and prevents this operation if there is no cap B on thepost 3. The rear plate 17 carries a forwardly projecting locating member29 which has a front recess 30 adapted to engage the base 4 of the post3' to positively locate said post exactly opposite the pusher plate 23during the clip attaching operation.

The front plate 18 mounts a clip feeding block, generally indicated at31, which also serves to clamp the cap B during the clip attachingoperation. The block 31 is-made in two parts 31 and 31", shown inFigures 4 and 5, respectively. Each half part of the block 31 consistsof a short'length of a heavy L-shaped bar providing an attachment flange32 and 32', and a forwardly extending flange 33 and 34 respectively; Theflanges 32 and 32' are adapted to be rigidly secured to the front plate18 flat against the same'by means of bolts passing through bolt holes 35and with the free flanges 3 3 and 34 in face to face contact. Flange 33of half block' 31' is provided with an elongated aperture 37 serving asa feeding passage, for the clips A. Furthermore, the inner face of thefree flange 33 is provided witha vertical groove 38 in which a separatorblade 39 is received for vertical slidable movement. The separator blade39 has a notch 40 at its lower end engageable with a central boss 41projecting within the groove 38 just underneath the aperture 37. Thenotch 40 has a: tapered transverse edge 42 defining a knife edge forfacilitating the separation of a clip to be attached to the cap at theclip attaching position from the remaining clips fed through aperture37. The separator blade 39 is actuated in its vertical movement by meansof a cylinder andpiston unit 43 which is in turn actuated by switch 28.The cylinder 44 of said unit is rigidly secured in upright position ontop of the front plate 18 and is connected to a supply of fluid underpressure through line 45. The unit 43 is double acting for positivelymoving the separator blade upwardly or downwardly. The head 46 of thepiston rod of the cylinder and piston unit 43 is rigidly secured to theseparator blade 49 at the upper end thereof and carried'an upwardlyextending tripping member 47 ofL-shape adapted to move the actuatingmember 48*of a switch 49 at the lower end of the stroke of thepistonrrod. Upon actuation of the actuating member 48, the switch 49is'closed thereby causing the actuation of the ram unit 14. Thus, if theseparator blade 39 is blocked by a misplaced clip A during its downwardstroke, the tripping member 47 will fail to actuate and close the switch49 and, therefore, the clipping operation will not be effected.

The half block 31", shown in Figure 5, is provided on the smooth innerface of its free flange 34 with a horizontally extending groove 51 forthe free passage of the pusher plate 23. The free flange 34 is furtherprovided with a slit 52 which is horizontally disposed and opens at thefront edge 53 of said free flange 34. A lever 54 is pivoted intermediateits ends about a vertical pin-55*and extends into the groove 51 and inthe path of the pusher plate 23. The outer end of thelever 35 isconnected to a spring 56 which is secured at its other end to the frontportion of the free flange 34. The spring 56 urges the free end of lever54 rearwardly with respect to the clipping machine that is, towards theattachment flanges 32. The free end of the lever 54 serves as a holderfor temporarily maintaining the clip A in proper position within thegroove 51 from the time said clip is fed into said groove until thetongues 1 of the clip are made to engage the cap B under the forwardmovement of edge 24 of the pusher plate 23. More particularly, the freeend of the lever 54 is disposed opposite the clip feeding aperture 37 ofthe half block 31 and is adapted to extend under the lower pair oftongues of. the clip A fed intothe groove 51.

The front edge of each half block 31 and 31" is provided with alongitudinally extending, vertically disposed groove 57, 57' adapted toform, when joined together, a concave recess for contacting andpositioning the cap B in clip attaching position against the anvil 25.

The assembly of the front plate 18, two half blocks 31"- and 31",separator blade 39 and its actuating cylinder and piston unit 43, andswitch 49 is shown in Figure 8; said assembly further includes a"magazine 58 for" housing a plurality of clips A and for feeding saidclips through the feeding aperture 37; the magazine 58 is inserted intoand secured within said aperture 37 at one end and has a suflicientlength to hold a great number of clips A in side by siderelationshipwith their tongues 1 facing forwardly ofthemachine. The magazine 58 isinclined so that the. clips A will move under gravity towards theaperture 37. To facilitate movement of the clips, the magazine. 58. maybe vibrated, if desired.

The machine in accordance with the present invention operates asfollows:

After completion of the attachment of a clip'to a cap B, the table 2rotatesthrough a predetermined angle to bring the next cap B into clipattaching position opposite the anvil 25, whereby said cap closes theswitch 28 which initiates the operation of the actuating cylinder andpiston unit 43 of the separator blade 39. Assuming that a clip A isalready in position within the groove 51 with itslower pair of tongues 1supported by the free end of the lever 54, the separator blade 39 movesdownwardly to separate said clip from the remaining clips in themagazine 58; the length of the lever is such that it willnot preventdownward movement of the separator blade 39 and the latter serves tolaterally position the clip within the groove 51.

Upon completion of the stroke of the unit 43, arm 4 47 actuates switch49 which initiates operation of the ramming unit 14 which moves theentire assembly of the rear and front plates 17 and 18 forwardly untilthe.

front plate 18 is stopped because the grooves 57, 57' of the block 31positively engage the cap B and press the same against anvil 25. Uponcontinuing forward movement of the ram unit 14, the rear plate 17continues tomove forwardly, thereby causing the locating member 29to'start to engage the base of post 3 and simultaneously bringing thefront edge 24 of the pusher plate 23 in engagement with the clip A heldon the lever 54. The clip A is displaced forwardly thereby pivoting thelever 54 which retracts within the slit 52 and allows passage of theclip and pusher plate 23. The lever 54 clears the clip after the tonguesof the latter have contacted the side wall of the cap B, whereby saidclip is always maintained in the exact vertical position for proper clipattaching operation until it is in actual engagement with the cap.Further movement of the pusher plate 23, presses the tongues 1 of theclip A through the material of the cap and into engagement with thegrooves 6 of the stem 5, thereby bending said tongues against the innerface of the cap. The pusher plate 23 then starts its reverse stroke andthe separator blade 39 simultaneously starts its upward stroke whereby,when the front edge 24 of the pusher plate 23 clears the aperture 37,the separator blade 39 has reached its uppermost position and clearssaid clip feeding aperture 37, and the holding lever 54 has resumed itsoriginal position under the action Should the clips A be improperlydisposed within the magazine 58 or if there is a defective clip, theseparator blade 39 will not reach the end of its downward stroke butwill be blocked by the defective clip whereby the switch 49 will failtooperate and the next clip attaching operation will not be eifected.Similarly, the operation" will not be effected if there is no cap on thepost 3 in operative position, the sensing member 26 failing to closeswitch 28.

The movements described hereinabove have short strokes and can beeffected rapidly whereby the machine,

in accordance with the present invention, will have a very high output.

It will be noted that during the clip attaching operation the cap B isvery accurately positioned and is maintained in said position by thecooperation of the locating member 29, the anvil 25 and the block 31.Similarly, the clip A is laterally exactly positioned between the twohalf blocks 31' and 31" and accurately vertically positioned by-thelever 54 until its tongues 1 actually engage the wall of the cap B; theseparator blade 39 insures that only one clip is fed to the block 31 ata time.

The table 2 is rotated step by step by any suitable means.

While a preferred embodiment according to the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it is understood that various modificationsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for attaching clips to caps of pens, pencils and the likecomprising, in combination, a cap support movable to bring a cap to aclip attaching station, means disposed at said station to clamp said capin a predetermined position, said means including a block pressedagainst said cap, said block having a cavity opening opposite said capand having a lateral passage for feeding a clip into said cavity, apusher plate movable through said cavity to engage said clip in saidcavity and press the same against said cap, and power means to actuatesaid pusher plate.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap support includes anupright stem having longitudinally extending grooves therein facing saidpusher plate when said cap support is in said station, said cap beinginserted over said cap support and said clip having projecting tonguesadapted to be inserted through said cap and be bent by engagement withsaid grooves upon the pressing action of said pusher plate.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for clamping saidcap at said predetermined position includes an anvil disposed oppositesaid block and adapted to engage said cap at said station.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, further including means to movesuccessively a plunality of cap supports along a circular path, saidanvil having a convex cap engaging face along which said caps slide whenreaching said station.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, further including means foraccurately positioning said clip in said cavity including a horizontallydisposed spring pressed lever pivotally mounted in said block andextending through said cavity and adapted to engage the tongues of saidclip to support the latter at a predetermined level within said cavity,said lever pivoting freely under the clip pressing movement of saidpusher plate and retracting during this pivotal movement out of saidcavity to allow passage of said pusher plate.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, further including a separator bladevertically movable through said block to take an operative positionblocking communication between said cavity and said lateral passage anda retracted position opening said communication, said separator bladeisolating one clip in said cavity from adjacent clips.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, further including a sensing member,sensing the presence of a cap at said station and controlling theoperation of said separator blade when detecting said presence andpreventing operation of said separator blade when detecting absence of acap at said station.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6, further including electric controlmeans operated by the operation of said separator blade and controllingthe operation of said power means, said electric control meanspreventing operation of said power means when said blade fails to reachits operative position.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 1, further including a first platedirectly connected to said power means and mounting said pusher plateand a second plate resiliently connected to said first plate and havingan opening for the free passage of said pusher plate, said block beingdirectly secured to said second plate.

10. A machine for attaching clips to caps of pens, pencils and the likecomprising, in combination, a circular table rotatable about a centralaxis, a plurality of posts rigidly secured to said table and disposedalong a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of said table, eachpost adapted to engage and support a cap thereon, and having twolongitudinally extending spaced parallel grooves fiacing radiallyoutwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of said table, said tablebeing rotatable step by step to successively bring each said post and acap supported thereon to a clip attaching station, an anvil fixedlydisposed above said table at said clip attaching station, said anvilhaving a convex surface engaged by a cap at said clip attaching station,a frame overlying part of said table and radially and outwardlyextending therefrom, said anvil being secured to the overlying portionof said frame, a ram unit mounted on said frame, a pusher plate securedto said unit for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvilto press and attach a clip onto said cap at said clip attaching station,a block resiliently connected to said pusher plate and movable towardsand away from said cap at said clip attaching station and adapted toengage said cap ahead of the clip pushed by said pusher plate to clampsaid cap in a predetermined position at said station, said block havinga longitudinal cavity for the free passage of said pusher plate andhaving a lateral passage for feeding clips into said cavity, a magazinefor holding a plurality of clips side by side in communication with saidlateral passage, said clips having projecting tongues and being fed intosaid cavity with said tongues facing the cap at said clip attachingstation, a separator blade vertically movable through said blockadjacent said pusher plate and adapted to take an operative positionclosing said lateral passage to isolate a clip in said cavity from theremaining clips in said magazine and a retracted position clearing saidlateral passage for the admission of a clip into said cavity, powermeans for actuating said separator blade and means for maintaining aclip in said cavity in a predetermined position until engagement of saidclip with said cap under the action of said pusher .plate.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, further including sensing meansfor detecting the presence or absence of a cap at said clip attachingstation, said sensing means initiating the operation of said separatorblade upon detecting the presence of a cap at said clip attachingstation and preventing the operation of said separator blade whendetecting the absence of a cap at said clip attaching station.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11, further including electric controlmeans operable to prevent operation of said ram unit upon failure ofsaid separator blade to reach its operative position blocking saidlateral passage.

I 13. A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for holding aclip in said cavity comprises a lever pivoted so as to have one endnormally extending within said cavity to support a clip therein and soas to be freely pivotable upon forward pressing movement of said pusherplate to clear said cavity when said clip contacts said cap.

No references cited.

